Performance of SBR-Latex

SBR Latex Modified Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced PSC

Railway Sleepers under Static Loading
Loading.
G.R.Harish1, S.A.K.Zai2, N. Munnirudrappa3, Ajay.N4, Ambika.M.R4, Deepak
Deepak.B.V4, Venugopal.K4.
1, 2
Professor Facility of Civil Engineering, University of Visvesvaraya Collage of Engineering, Bangalore University,
Bangalore-560 056, India.
3
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering, K.S.Layout, Shivage Malleshwara
Hills,Bangalore-560 078, India.
4
Former P.G Students, University of Visvesvaraya Collage of Engineering, Bangalore University, Bangalore-560
Bangalore 056,
India.

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a study on the behaviour of SBR-latex
SBR modified polypropylene
olypropylene fibre reinforced prestressed concrete railway sleeper
under static loading. The prestressed
restressed concrete sleeper is an imperative component of ballasted railway tracks. Its main function is to
distribute axle loads on rails to the soil beneath.
beneath The prestressed concrete sleeper is subjected to sagging moment at the rail seat section
and hogging moment at the mid section. The emphasis
emphas of this paper is on ductility aspect of new advanced materials over conventional
material used in the manufacture
facture of railway prestressed concrete sleepers. The test specimens are casted in sleeper factory at Birur,
Karnataka, in accordance with IRS T-39 39-1985. The PSC sleepers are tested under two-point static loading.
loading From the experimental
study, first crack load, load - deflection behavior upto first crack load, ductility factor, energy absorption capacity and toughness index
upto first crack load are observed.

Keywords: Railway pre-stressed

stressed concrete sleepers, Static loading, Ductility factor, energy absorption
tion capacity and toughness index.

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Concrete Sleepers
Railway tracks have been designed based on role in distributing axle loads to formation.
consideration to overcome the heavier load-load The axle loads could be considered static or
carrying capacity and more ore energy absorption quasi-static
static when the speeds of trains are quite
capacity. Usually, ballasted railway track moderate. However, in general, the axle
which consists of rails, ballast formation and loading tends to physically behave like the
fastening system is widely constructed for dynamic impact pulses due to the continual
transportation [4]. The railway sleepers are moving ride over track irregularities and faster
importantly functioned to: speeds.
- Uniformly transfer and distribute loads from
the rail to underlying ballast bed.
- Sustain and retain the rails at the proper
gauge by keeping anchorage for the rail
fastening system; preserve rail inclination; -
Provide support for rail; restrain longitudinal,
lateral and vertical
ertical rail movements by
embedding itself onto substructures (see Fig.1 Components of Railway Track
Fig.1). It is clear that the sleeper has a major

1
B. Behaviour of Sleepers composite material in novel technology in the
field manufacture of sleeper industries with
Although the dynamic effects have evidently
a benefit of increase in life span of existing
prevailed over the failures of railway concrete
PSC sleeper and increase in loading carrying
sleepers, most of the design criteria are on the
capacity with quality production.
basis of the static sectional capacity of the
concrete sleepers. Theoretical concepts of
II EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS
strength, ductility, stability, fracture mechanics
Experimental setups were carried out
refer to static behaviour of prestressed
complying with Indian Standards: IRS-T-
sleepers. By nature, the concrete sleeper is
39-1985 Pretensioned Prestressed concrete
subjected to sagging moment at the railseat
sleepers.
zone and hogging moment at the middle
section.
A. Materials used
- Special grade 53-S cement (As per IRST-39).
C. Research Significance
- Coarse aggregate with fraction
Strength and ductility are the two major
52%:23%.
important factors to be considered in the
- Natural river sand (Confirm to Zone-I).
design of structures subjected to static and
- Water.
dynamic loads, hence many attempts have
- Silica Fume (Microsilica 920-D).
been made in the recent past to develop a new
- Superplasticizer (Glenium ACE-30).
material, which exhibits higher strength and
- SBR-latex.
ductility than the conventional concrete. It has
- Polypropylene Fibres.
been understood from the literature that many
- High Tensile Wires.
of the engineering properties such as tensile
strength, compressive strength, flexural
B. Mix proportions
strength, fracture toughness, energy absorption
The M-60 grade of concrete is designed by
capacity, etc of the conventional concrete
Erntroy and Shaklock’s Empirical Graphical
could be improved by the addition of fibers.
Method. The mix proportions are
Similarly incorporation of polymers into
1:0.92:2.65:0.31. Then modified M-60 grade
concrete has also come across on the
of concrete achieved by adding 10% SBR-
combined effect of fibers and polymer on the
latex, 0.25% of polypropylene fibres, 10% of
strength and behaviour of concrete.
silica fume and 0.6% of superplasticizer. The
Considering this gap in the existing knowledge
mix proportions are 1:1.02:2.94:0.28.
an attempt has been made to study the
combined effect of polymers and fibers on
C. Test Specimens
flexural behaviour of Pretensioned Prestressed
The eight standard sleepers (SS, MS-1 &MS-
concrete (PSC) sleeper. The polymer
2) are casted with trapezoidal cross section at
considered in this study is Styrene Butadiene
railseat 150x250x210 mm and at the centre
Rubber (SBR) Latex.
150x220x 180 mm with span of 2750 mm in
The main aim of present study is to detailed
Malu Sleepers. Pvt. Ltd, Karnataka, India.
experimental investigation of conventional
Pre-Tensioned PSC sleeper and modifying the
D. Static Bending Test for Sleepers
PSC sleepers with advanced construction
Tests were conducted as per IRS: T-39-85
materials such as SBR-latex, polypropylene
(Third Revision-May-1996). The arrangement
fibres, silica fume and new generation
is shown in Fig.2. The sleepers are tested
superplasticizer to enhanced the structural
under different supports conditions such as
properties, ductility aspects and durability
centre top, centre bottom and railseat bottom.
aspect, so that introduction of such
2
The PSC sleepers were tested under two point
loading. All PSC sleepers were tested in the
loading frame of capacity 500 KN with
gradually increment of load at rate of 30 to 40
KN per minute up to the first crack load.
load
III.. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
A. Compressive strength of concrete
Fig. 4 shown the compressive strength, there
will be 21% increasing in plain M-60 concrete
and 11% of compressive strength is increased
due to the modified latex fibre reinforced
concrete as compare to M-55
M concrete. As per
the Railway Specification the minimum
compressive strength for 15 days is 55 N/mm2
i: e 63.2 N/mm2.

70
M-55

Compressive Strength in
60
50
40
30 M-60

Mpa
20
10
0 M-
60+SBR+Fibr
Fig.2 The Arrangement of Static bending test 0 3 6 9 12 15 es
on Sleeper. Ages (Days)

E. Electrical Resistance Test for Sleepers Tests

were conducted as per IRS: T-39. T The Fig.4 Variation of Compressive strength with
arrangement is shown in Fig.3. The sleeper Ages
shall be checked for electrical resistance at 230
volts AC supply. The 230 volts AC supply will 14
Flexural Strength in Mpa

be passed through a not less than 300 W test 12

M-55
lamp in series with the pairs of inserts being 10
tested. 8
6 M-60
4
2
0 M-
0 10 20 60+SBR+Fibr
es
Ages in Days

Fig.5 Variation of Flexural strength with Ages

B. Flexural strength of concrete

Fig.3 The Arrangement of
Resistance test on Sleeper.
Fig. 5 shown the flexural strength of concrete,
concrete
the values are more than 5 N/mm2, hence
cracks occurs within middle third of the span.
Electrical As per Railway specification T-39,
T flexural
3
strength of concrete is should not be less than bottom of sleeper shows 3% of load carrying
5 N/mm2. capacity is increased and due to modification
of latex and fibre 13% load carrying capacity
C. Load- deflection behavior of Sleepers is increased. And Moment of failure it will
take more than 500 KN. The values of moment
160 of resistance & moment of failure are more
140 than control specimen and also more than
120
M-60 RDSO acceptance criteria.
100
E. Ductility Factor
Load (KN)

80 M- Table-2 Ductility Factor values

60 60+SBR+Fib Sleeper Designation Ductility Factor
re SS(M55) 2.5
40
MS-1(M60) 4.6
20 M-55 MS-2(M60+SBR+Fibre) 7.3
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 From Table-2, it can be seen that the values of
ductility factors [8] computed from the load-
Deflection (mm)
deflection curve upto first crack load. It
indicates, ductility factor up to first crack load
Fig.6 Load versus Deflection Curves has obtained 7.3 in MS-2 and in MS-1 it is 4.6
as compare to control specimen SS (M-55)
Fig. 6 shown the first crack loads of sleepers, 2.5. Hence, modified SBR-latex fibre concrete
it will vary from 100KN to 130 KN. The sleeper show more flexible than control
deflection corresponding to first crack loads specimen.
are 0.26mm, 0.6mm and 1.7mm for M-55, M-
60 and M-60 with latex modified sleepers F. Energy Absorption Capacity
respectively. Table-3 Energy Absorption Capacity values
Sleeper Designation Ductility Factor
D. Static Bending Strength of Sleepers SS(M55) 1.68
Table - 1 Static Bending strength values MS-1(M60) 4.55
Sleeper Designation Centre Rail Seat Bottom MS-2(M60+SBR+Fibre) 16.01
Top From Table-3, it can be seen that the values of
Mome Moment
nt of of
energy absorption capacity [8] computed from
Resista Failure the load-deflection curve upto first crack load.
nce It indicates, energy absorption capacity up to
SS(M55) 100 335 435 first crack load has obtained 16.01KN-mm in
MS-1(M60) 110 350 >500 MS-2 sleepers and in MS-1 4.55 KN-mm as
MS-2(M60+SBR+Fibre) 130 382 >500 compare to control specimen SS (M-55) 1.68
As per RDSO 60 220 370
KN-mm. Hence, energy absorption capacity
increases significantly.
The static bending test results values are
shown in Table-1. All values given in Table
G. Toughness Index
are average values of 3 sleepers. In centre top
Table-4 Toughness Index values
of sleeper shows 10 % of load carrying Sleeper Designation Ductility Factor
capacity is increased in M60 sleepers and due SS(M55) 2.5
to modification of latex and fibre, 30% load MS-1(M60) 3.5
carrying capacity is increased. Hence, values MS-2(M60+SBR+Fibre) 23.03
are greater than standard values. In Rail seat
4
From Table-4, it can be seen that the values of 4. Sakdirat Kaewunruen and Dr
Toughness Index computed [8] from the load- .Alex.M.Remennikov, “Post-failure
deflection curve upto first crack load. It mechanism and residual load-carrying
indicates, toughness index up to first crack capacity of railway pre-stressed concrete
load has obtained 23.03 in MS2 sleepers and sleeper under hogging moment”,
in MS1 3.5 as compare to control specimen SS University of Wollongong, Year 2006, PP
2.5.Hence, toughness index increases 331-336.
significantly. 5. Sakdirat Kaewunruen &
Dr.Alex.M.Remennikov,“Investigations of
IV CONCLUSIONS static and dynamic performance of railway
The experimental programme deals with the PSC sleepers”. University of Wollongong,
study of static bending strength, electrical 2007.
resistance test, load deflection behaviour, 6. R.Ramamani, “Investigation of Static
energy absorption capacity and toughness Behavior of Pre-Stressed Concrete
index. Some conclusions are given below. Sleepers Reinforced with Steel filings”,
1. Load carrying capacity 30% more than the Dissertation Report, Bangalore University,
control specimen. UVCE, Oct-2007.
2. The electrical resistivity is good for the all 7. Chaitra. B. R, “Design of PSC Sleepers
the test specimens tested. Using Portland Slag Cement”, Dissertation
3. It is experimentally evident that from results Report, Bangalore University, UVCE, Oct-
obtained for static bending test, load carrying 2007.
capacity, ductility factor, energy absorption 8. Shivananda. K.P, “Study on Polymer
capacity and toughness index for the material Modified Steel Fibre Reinforced
chosen in present study is more than Concrete”, Ph.D report, University of
conventional material used in control Calicut, Regional Engineering College,
specimen. December-1998.
4. The static behaviour of PSC sleeper can be 9. Dr. Sadath Ali Khan Zai, “Impact
increased by using higher toughness and Behaviour of Steel Fibre Reinforced High
higher fracture capacity, which can be Strength Concrete Beams”, Ph.D report,
achieved by addition of fibre and SBR- latex Bangalore University, U.V.C.E, November
to concrete matrix. -2006.
10. Dr.Amlan.k.Sengupta & Prof. Devdas
V. REFERENCES Menon, “Pre-stressed concrete structures”,
IIT-Madras.
1. S.K. Chaturvedi, R. S. Yadav, S. A.Soni
11. Indian Railway Standard: T-39-85 Third
and R. D. Baria, “Project on Concrete
Revision Indian railway Standard
Sleepers and Quality Control”, Western
specification for Pre-tensioned prestressed
Railway.
concrete sleepers for Broad gauge and
2. A.G.Madhava Rao, V.S.Parameswaran and
Meter gauge.
E.Abdul Karim, “Experimental
12. IS: 1343 -1980 Practice for Prestressed
Investigation on Pre-Stressed Railway
concrete.
Sleepers”, International symposium on
PSC pipes, pressure & sleeper, PP SL/3.
3. Sakdirat Kaewunruen and Dr.Alex.
M.Remennikov, “Rotational Capacity of
Railway Prestressed Concrete Sleeper
under Static Hogging Moment”, University
of Wollongong, Year 2006, PP 399-404.
5
6
7